More than half the kids who flunked eighth grade last year flunked again, despite getting special help in an innovative, anti-dropout program, The Post has learned.

Midyear Board of Education statistics show 1,150 of the 2,173 students – or 53 percent – are still enrolled in the “Eight Plus” program this year.

The remaining 1,023 students – 47 percent – were promoted to the ninth grade based on test scores, course work and attendance at the end of the fall term.

“It’s a time bomb. These kids are the nukes in the school system,” said disappointed Board of Education member Irving Hamer of Manhattan. “We should have a 75 percent to 80 percent success rate.”

But aides in Schools Chancellor Harold Levy’s office declared Eight Plus a roaring success. They had expected most students to repeat the full academic year – and not get promoted midyear.

“I couldn’t be happier. These students made up a year’s work in half a year. I do think it’s a good sign,” said Deputy Chancellor of Instruction Judith Rizzo, who expects the rest of the students to get promoted to the ninth grade in June.

Eight Plus programs are separate from other eighth-grade classes. Some are held in alternative schools, as well as in junior highs.

Research shows students who keep on flunking eighth and ninth grades are most likely to give up hope and drop out. And eighth and ninth graders posted the worst scores on state exams during summer school.

Levy launched the special intervention program to provide struggling, older students with special help to bring them up to the new Regents standards.

Eight Plus class sizes are limited to 15 students, who also receive a host of guidance and social services. They can also take high-school courses. Under the old promotion policy, eighth-grade students who turned 15 were automatically promoted, even if they flunked all their classes.

But the board’s new policy abolished the age cap, and no longer passes along failing eighth-graders.

Hamer, who requested the figures, said the board needed to review the quality of teaching, instructional methods and curriculum used in the Eight Plus program. “A low-performing student can move up with a good academic program,” he said.

Aides to Mayor Giuliani said the figures should not be used as an excuse to lower standards.

“Students who go to high school should be able to do high-school work,” said Deputy Mayor Tony Coles.